Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Hell Gate
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The main event of the fifth round had come to an end.
The orc warriors left inside the fortress stirred uneasily. From their conversations, it seemed they had no idea what to do next.
I said nothing and led my group outside.
At this point, with the event over, it didn't really matter how they acted.
Once we were beyond the fortress gates, the waiting dwarves and elves came into view.
The elf queen, who had fainted from shock over Sylvia's death, had regained consciousness. Leaning against Deniro, she looked utterly forlorn.
Deniro shouted.
"Is it over?"
I nodded.
"..."
"We saw Orcus fall."
"Yeah."
"Did you finish him off for good?"
"Kabata and Orcus—both taken care of cleanly."
Ma Jeongwoo stepped forward, holding Kabata's head, and showed it to Deniro.
A bright smile lit up Deniro's face. Sylvia, on the other hand, couldn't smile. All this battle had brought her were wounds. The death of her daughter, and the betrayal of Blant, whom she had trusted and followed so faithfully. If she weren't a game NPC, it was hard to imagine the depth of her shock.
Regardless of her feelings, everyone cheered at the victory. All those gathered before the fortress wore expressions of pure joy.
-Finally, the long war with the orcs is over...
-Peace! Peace! That human brought us peace!
-God, if you exist, please bless that man.
Deniro walked up to me and extended his hand.
"You've done well. And thank you—truly."
I shook his hand.
"No big deal. It was something I planned to do anyway."
The weary-faced Charlotte slowly approached and spoke to me.
"You've worked hard."
"...You okay?"
"If I said I was fine after losing my daughter, that would be a lie."
Yoo Sora carried Sylvia's head, while Michael carried Don Vito's, and they emerged from the fortress.
Seeing Sylvia with her eyes peacefully closed brought fresh tears to Charlotte's eyes.
As her tears fell, a hush fell over everyone.
The dwarf and elf soldiers who had fought in the battle grieved as well.
I scratched my head as I watched them.
I just didn't like situations like this.
It wasn't because I saw them as NPCs.
I simply hated these solemn, heavy atmospheres.
Yoo Sora, tears streaming down her face, handed Sylvia's head to Charlotte.
"I-I'm sorry I couldn't protect her."
Charlotte took Sylvia's head.
"..."
She only sobbed silently.
Jeongwoo handed me a cigarette.
"Here."
"Thanks. Perfect timing."
"You hate these moments the most. When everyone starts bawling."
I took the cigarette and put it in my mouth.
"Yeah. You know me well."
"But why bring the heads? You're not planning to Revive both, are you? To let them meet."
"...Sylvia has a body, so Revive works, but Don Vito's just bones now. Can't bring him back."
Ma Jeongwoo smacked his own head with his fist.
Kwang!
His golden helmet rattled.
"Ah... right."
"Anyway, how's your armor coming along? You look like a total pro from the outside."
"Golden set, so yeah—everything except the plate is 'Rare' grade. Not bad, I think."
A golden set was gear no beginner could dream of.
It required massive amounts of gold, and only a dwarf hammer could smelt it.
I shrugged.
"Golden Warrior set from the fifth round—'Rare' grade alone is impressive..."
"Is it? Well, if you say so. Anyway... when are we heading to the next round?"
"After treatment. Feels like my collarbone's busted. Better get it fixed at the Elf Helm."
Ma Jeongwoo poked my collarbone with a smug grin.
"Hurt?"
"Ow! You crazy bastard! What if you press that hard?"
"It's real. Well... we've come this far, no rush. Take it slow."
"Whew—good thing the next round's back in Utopia."
"...Yeah. Though other players might not call it Utopia anymore."
* * * * *
The orcs left in the fortress decided to follow the dwarf king, Deniro, to the canyon.
They had initially aimed to kill them all, but Deniro changed his mind after hearing about the orcs' past good relations with the dwarves.
He looks so rough, but how's his heart that soft?
If it were me, I'd have wiped them out.
Ma Jeongwoo, Yoo Sora, and Michael had left this place three days earlier.
They said they'd head to another location first while I recovered.
Dwarf Canyon was bad for the lungs with all that dust, and unlike the fragrant elves, they didn't want to hang around the smelly orcs.
Anyway, leaving the World Tree meant passing through the 'Conqueror's Tomb' from the fourth round again, so we agreed to regroup there.
At dawn, I left the Elf Helm and headed for the frog waterfall.
Soon, the sound of rushing water reached my ears.
The scent of the early morning forest faded, replaced by damp air enveloping my body.
Arriving at the waterfall, I sat on a log and lit a cigarette.
Tsss. Tzzt.
Suck. Puff—
"...Don't the frogs ever sleep?"
-Croak! Croak!
I took a deep drag and blew hard, scattering the frogs in all directions.
White smoke veiled my vision.
Cho Youngki appeared stealthily and sat beside me.
"Kim Cheonjae. When do we head to the next round?"
"Call me hyung."
"...Now?"
"I said call me."
"...Hyung, when do we head to the next round?"
I tapped my healed collarbone with my finger and answered.
"Bone feels good. Tonight works perfect."
"Tonight... Then I should go fill bags with life powder now."
"Life powder expires after a day. Why fill up?"
"Sell it at the shop for cash. Gotta sell it all."
"...You love money that much."
Cho Youngki chuckled at the ground.
"Of course. Nothing beats money in this world."
"Life?"
"Life matters. But I meant what I like, not what's important."
"...Fine. Do what you want."
I brushed off my butt and walked to the waterfall.
The frogs croaked loudly, staring at the cascade. That mystical aura and thrilling shiver I'd felt before. I already knew whose it was, but it was still impressive.
Cho Youngki yelled from behind me.
"What're you doing? Swimming this early?"
"Nah, I hate water."
"Then why go into the pond? Wait, too small for a pond."
"...Do you know what's in there?"
"In the pond?"
"No, beyond the waterfall."
"Beyond the waterfall?"
At a glance, it looked like water pooling from the falls, but it never stagnated here.
How could so much water pool so small?
It defied logic. The map would show it, but the water surely drained underground to a valley.
Splash. Splash. Splash.
I waded slowly toward the waterfall. The water rose from my shins to my chest. I pressed on.
Cho Youngki watched silently. It climbed past my neck. A few more steps, and it submerged my face.
I ignored it and walked toward the falls.
Roooar—
The water crashed over my head.
As the roar shifted from crown to nape, I kicked off the bottom and surfaced.
"Pua!"
A black void opened.
Deep enough to seem like a cave.
Resentment emanated from within.
I knew whose without looking.
Gawain, who had followed me, burst from the water.
Splash!
He spoke to me.
"My lord, we're here."
"Good work. Light it up inside?"
"Yes."
Gawain raised his blade overhead and chanted.
[Enchant Fire]
His blade blazed.
The flames illuminated the cave.
"...As expected."
Before me lay a single soul and a pile of bones turned pure white.
A male corpse barely propped at the cave's end. No way currents carried it here.
Someone had hidden it from prying eyes.
I swam to the bones.
And addressed the soul flitting nearby.
"Let's go, Don Vito. Sylvia's waiting."
* * * * *
That night, as we prepared to leave the Elf Helm, I met the queen alone to say goodbye.
"We probably won't meet again, but I wanted to say you take care."
"...I see."
"You don't blame me for Sylvia's death?"
She didn't answer.
I forced a smile and continued.
"Blame me. It'll help you feel better."
"No. I don't blame you, Cheonjae. You brought peace to the Elf Helm."
"...Think what you want. I'm off then?"
The real reason I'd come to say goodbye to Charlotte was singular. While I distracted her, Kim Yeonhui sneaked the box containing Sylvia's head out. We hurried from the elf queen's house to the World Tree.
Thud thud thud—
Kim Yeonhui panted, clutching the box as she ran.
"Ch-Cheonjae! This thing's heavy!"
Cho Youngki snatched her head and yelled at me.
"Why the hell are we taking this? Some hidden quest?"
I said nothing and kept running toward the starlit hill. Past Peace Tower, we reached the World Tree. I took Sylvia's head from Cho Youngki.
"Whew—running non-stop made me sweat buckets."
"Haa... haa... Sweat? I'm dying here."
"You two, get in the gate. I'll follow soon."
"Why? Solo hidden quest? If it's profitable, let me in."
"Nah, no profit. Beat it."
Cho Youngki furrowed his brow.
"Why curse?"
"So scram before I curse more."
"Ugh... Help a guy out and this is the thanks. Hey, Kim Yeonhui. Let's go."
Cho Youngki grumbled and entered the gate before the World Tree. Kim Yeonhui stuck her tongue out at me, then kicked off.
Pow!
"No helping next time!"
"...Whatever."
Kim Yeonhui entered the gate too.
I opened the box and set Sylvia's head on the ground.
"...Revive."
[Revive]
Sylvia's headless form opened her eyes.
I tidied her hair neatly first, then disabled mute mode and spoke to her.
"Sylvia. Recognize me?"
"...Mister!"
She beamed innocently.
Chatting with a lone elf head.
It could be creepy, depending on the view.
"Yeah. How was hell?"
"Hell...? I was in the Elf Helm the whole time."
"Elf Helm? No way. Never saw your soul there."
"Nuh-uh! I was trapped in this head. Stuffy in the box, though..."
Was that possible?
Never died myself, so who knows. Her word's probably gospel.
"You resent me?"
"Nope? Why would I resent you, mister?"
"I gave you Don Vito's head, and you died."
"...That's that, this is this. You didn't kill me."
"Good if you see it that way."
I stroked her head.
"Only one reason I called you. Got someone to meet."
"Someone to meet?"
"Before you turn back to soul, anyone you wanna see?"
Sylvia pondered.
"Hmm..."
"...Yeah?"
Two souls orbited me.
I grabbed one and shoved it into my head.
[Activate]
Don Vito's mind took over my body.
My eyes slanted up, lips curved in a smile.
A meteor shower rained over the hill. The night sky brightened as a fierce wind blew from Dwarf Canyon.
Don Vito removed his helmet, knelt before Sylvia, and said.
"...Sylvia?"
"Yeah? Speak, mister."
"...Sorry. That day, I was too late."
"Huh? When?"
Sylvia stared at my face in confusion.
Don Vito scratched his left eyebrow.
As he did, Sylvia's lips quivered.
"...Vito?"
Don Vito embraced her head.
Sylvia glanced at my face, then whispered softly.
"You're a bit late. I waited so long."
"Sorry I broke my promise."
"...You kept it. We agreed to meet here."
Park Gyuhwan appeared with a bouquet of the same flowers from that day and handed them to Don Vito.
Don Vito placed them beside her, and the two talked under the falling stars.
I waited until their conversation ended, then canceled the Revive on Sylvia.
Then released both souls to the World Tree.
"Live well, everyone. Wait, not the right words for the dead?"
Don Vito's floating soul waved goodbye.
"Thanks. And I'm a dwarf, not a human."
"Ah, right..."
Sylvia stuck right beside him, waving too.
"Mister! See you again!"
"No more meetings. Now that you're dead, be happy together. No raising creepy frogs."
"Hey, what!"
I turned and headed for the gate.
Finally, I could go to the place unraveling suspicions from the first round.
Utopia's midsection, where an event revealing Yoo Sora's true nature awaited.
The 'Hell Gate,' where one of this world's gods, Michael, was imprisoned.
Login the Apocalypse